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Dragon Tree “Marginata”

Latin name

Dracaena marginata (Single Stem)

Pronounciation

(“drah-SEE-nah mar-jin-AH-tah”)

Common name

Dracaena marginata

Origin

Madagascar

How easy am I to care for?

Buy one of my cousins from the nursery:

Our small Dragon Tree “Marginata”, or Dracaena marginata, is an easy-care houseplant with a single stem that prefers dappled shade to direct sunlight. Dracaena marginata is an erect shrub or tree growing to a height of three metres or more. Its thin, snake-like trunk branches with age and is topped by rosettes of narrow, quite rigid leaves. Depending on variety these are green and/or yellow striped with red edging.

Often, these are sold in groups of three in a pot, with each plant a different height, and each with two or three branches of foliage – when arranged like this, they are called a touffe, or tuft. Older plants often have thicker stems and multiple branches.

There is much debate about the naming and classification of this plant and it is likely that the plants in cultivation are actually a type of Dracaena reflexa (D. reflexa var. angustifolium) or even Dracaena cincta, since true Dracaena marginata is a synonym of Aloe purpurea, which has much broader leaves. All our potted plants come in compostable coir pots.

Caring for your plant

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Light

Low-medium to medium-high light.
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Watering

The soil should be kept moist, but not wet. It will tolerate occasional drying out, but not for prolonged periods, so make sure it is watered before you go on holiday. If the soil gets dry for a prolonged period, the leaves will start to discolour and develop brown tips and spots. Wet soil will damage the roots and cause wilting and yellowing of the foliage.
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Pruning

Leggy growth can be cut back and new whorls of foliage will emerge from dormant buds below where you cut back to. Leggy, or straggly plants can be cut back quite hard and new growth will appear in a few weeks
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Feeding

Over feeding can be damaging, so use a weak solution of fertilizer in the water at every watering
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Pest & Diseases

In dry conditions, two-spotted spider mite can be a real problem, so keep the plant misted and the leaves clean. Mealybugs can also be a problem, and they often can be found at the base of the leaves. They need to be removed by cleaning with a damp cloth or paper towel.

Mill Pond Nurseries,
Mill Road,
Henham,
CM22 6AA

T: 0345 505 3333
E: enquiries@planteriagroup.com

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